Best Time to Visit Basel for 3 Days Itinerary, What to Do & Where to Go

Day 1 | Morning

Toy Worlds Museum Basel

Opening Hours: Open from 10:00am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 7 CHF

Recommended Length of Stay: 2.0-3.0 Hours

Location: Steinenvorstadt 1, 4051 Basel

The Basel Dollhouse Museum collection displays almost the most kinds of teddy bears in the world. When you walk into the museum, you are full of teddy bears, which are very delicate and beautiful. If you are a fan of teddy bears, you must not do this here. In addition to teddy bears, the museum also has other dolls on display.

Day 1 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Museum Tinguely.

Museum Tinguely

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Fri,Sun,11:00am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 15 CHF

Location: Paul Sacher-Anlage 2, 4002 Basel, Switzerland

The Tinguely Museum was designed by architect Mario Botta and built in 1996. The museum mainly displays the life and works of Jean Tinguely, the steel sculptor. There are many interesting dynamic exhibits designed by Jean Dingley. The museum's permanent exhibition is the sculptor's work from the 1950s to the present, including electric reliefs from the 1960s, wire-drawing machines and works of scrap. The sculptures that are piled up with waste are almost everyone's childhood dream, but no one can make it closer to our ideal than him, which is amazing.

Day 1 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Museum Tinguely? Grand Hotel les Trois Rois is one of your top choices.

Grand Hotel les Trois Rois

Situated in the centre of Basel's Old Town, on the banks of the Rhine, Grand Hotel les Trois Rois is one of Europe’s oldest city hotels, where such personalities as Napoleon, Elizabeth II, Pablo Picasso, Thomas Mann and others have stayed. Rates at the Les Trois Rois Grand Hotel include free WiFi and wired internet access, free minibar use, a daily newspaper, access to the fitness centre, and the Mobility Ticket for public transport in Basel. The Cheval Blanc restaurant was awarded 2 Michelin stars and 19 Gault Millau points.
　　Exclusively market-fresh ingredients are used in the hotel's 3 restaurants. Gourmet Restaurant Cheval Blanc: 2 Michelin stars, 18 Gault Millau points. Our chef Peter Knogl takes you on a journey thourgh Mediterranean haute cuisine. On fine summer days the romantic terrace at the Rhine will be opened. Brasserie: The Brasserie Les Trois Rois is the place to take a break from everyday routine. The extensive menu features many Swiss and French specialities and suits all tastes. Our insiders’ tip: the lavish Sunday brunch with superb views of the Rhine. Chez Donati: Chez Donati celebrates Italianità. For fifty years, the restaurant has been Basel’s top address for lovers the Piedmont cuisine.

Day 2 | Morning

Dreiländereck

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-3 Hours

Location: Westquaistrasse 75, 4057 Basel

Basel is close to Germany and France and is a city at the junction of the three countries. There is a rocket-shaped sculpture at the junction, which is called the "Three Kingdoms Monument". The flags of Switzerland, France and Germany are engraved on it. There is a bridge across the Rhine in front of the monument, on both sides of the bridge can clearly identify the signs of the border.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Trip.com User: this place is unbelievable so beautiful

Day 2 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Dreiländereck, Basel Minster next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Basel Minster

Opening Hours: Open on Sun,11:30am-5:00pm;Open on Mon-Fri,10:00am-5:00pm;Open on Sat,10:00am-4:00pm

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-3 Hours

Location: Rittergasse 3, Basel 4051, Switzerland

The high walls made of red sandstone, the roofs paved with colorful tiles, the towering twin towers, all these make the cathedral one of the important features of Basel. The wine cellar, the choir, the tomb of Erasmus in Rotterdam, the Galluspforte and the two cloisters bear witness to the vicissitudes of the cathedral over the centuries. Basel's history as an urban settlement begins in Chapel Hill. In the first century BC, Celts from the Rauricii tribe lived in the fortified "oppidum". Today, the remains of the "Celtic Wall" can still be seen in the semi-underground windows of the Rittergasse. In 15 BC, the Roman army established a military base on Chapel Hill on the border between the Roman Empire and the Germanic tribes. In the center of the Münsterplatz square, you can see a hidden Roman well leading to the groundwater of the Rhine. In the late Roman Empire, Christianity was established in the Basel area. Existing documents record bishops who came to Basel from the Roman republic of Augusta Raurica, located about 10 kilometers upstream of the Rhine. But in fact, the names of all the bishops who have lived in Basel since the 8th century are now known. The cathedral dates back to the reign of Charlemagne, and the building was destroyed in 917 when the Hungarians attacked the entire city. At the beginning of the 11th century, Henry II built a magnificent new church for Basel. During the 25 years at the end of the 12th century, the church of Henry's period was replaced by Romanesque buildings, and after the earthquake in 1356, it was renovated into a Gothic church. Around the Münsterplatz square, the priests of the church built their own post-Gothic residences, and the open space was used for commemorative processions, festivals, competitions and grand military parades for visiting people. In 1529, Basel became fully Protestant. Bishops and clergy left the city, and the clergy's empty homes were sold to wealthy merchants. In the 18th century, the church became post-Baroque and Neoclassical, while Münsterplatz became a quiet and prosperous residential area, and later the administrative center of Basel. Today, this magnificent square is used as a venue for various events and an open space for people to meet.

Day 2 | Evening

For convenient access to more popular attractions, Basel Marriott Hotel is the best places.

Basel Marriott Hotel

Opened in 2022, the Basel Marriott Hotel offers travelers a pleasant stay in Basel, whether for business or leisure purposes.

Boasting a convenient location, the hotel is just 600m from Pratteln Train Station and 9km from EuroAirport Swiss Basel Mulhouse Freiburg. Famous local attractions Messeplatz, Congress Center Basel and Messeturm, can all be reached with a short walk.

This hotel makes a great place to kick back and relax after a long day of sightseeing.

Day 3 | Morning

Basler Rathaus

Opening Hours: Open from 7:00am-12:00am,2:00pm-5:00pm

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-3 Hours

Location: Marktpl. 9, 4001 Basel

The Basel City Hall stands on the Market Square and is the seat of the state capital of Basel and the seat of the city council. Of particular note are the Town Hall, its beautiful inner courtyard, its romantic arcades and its majestic tower. The town hall has been located in this area since the 14th century, rather than the seat of the city's previous ruler, the duchy monarch who was also bishop, who lived on Chapel Hill. Not choosing the same address shows that the citizens at that time sought independence as their economic strength grew, and were no longer subject to the bishop. The craftsmen formed 15 guilds, which in 1501 carried out the decision of the municipal council to join the Swiss Confederation. To commemorate this event, at the beginning of the 16th century, the first half of the then town hall was replaced by a very famous new building. The battlements have also been renovated, surrounded by very rich colors, with 12 badges hanging, representing the 12 cantons, including Basel, which joined the Swiss Confederation at the time. At the beginning of the 17th century, the town hall was enlarged, and HansBock painted the wider and longer walls, with imitation architecture. In 1900, the town hall was further expanded, adding a annex on the left and a tower on the right. At the same time, the original rear building built in the 14th century was demolished and a new building was built. This was a period of historicism, as the architects used elements from the traditional style, some old parts and their architectural forms were incorporated into the new building, but the whole decoration was of a very new style at the time, known as Art Nouveau.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Trip.com User: fav place in Swiss

Day 3 | Afternoon

When time permits after visiting Basler Rathaus, don’t forget pay a visit to Basel Museum of Ancient Art and Ludwig Collection.

Basel Museum of Ancient Art and Ludwig Collection

Recommended Length of Stay: 2.0-3.0 Hours

Location: St. Alban-Graben 5, 4051 Basel

Located in a historically important building in the center of Basel, the Basel Museum of Ancient Art was built in 1961 and is one of the many museums in the Swiss city of Basel. The museum has a rich collection, with permanent collections dating back to Egyptian, Greek, Italian, Etruscan and Roman cultures, from 4000 BC to the 6th century AD. Sculptures and pottery occupy an important position in the museum, and gold jewelry, bronze statues, and clay sculptures are also worthy of careful appreciation. The museum's extensive collection of Greek and Egyptian vases is part of the exhibition, which includes works of art from the Mediterranean region from 1000 BC to 300 AD. The museum also often holds themed exhibitions, attracting high attention from people at home and abroad, and is deeply favored by art lovers.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.